The sexual affair between a former Texas judge and a former district attorney has threatened to complicate the conviction and sentencing of a death row case. The judge, Verla Sue Holland, admitted under oath on Monday, that she and Thomas O’Connell carried on an affair for many years. Charles Dean Hood had been scheduled for execution today, but was granted a stay by the Court of Appeals for a hearing on his challenge to jury instructions. The court dismissed the claims that Hood had not received a fair trial due to the affair. (Chicago Tribune)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=174703